Support by the Broadband Access Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts is gratefully acknowledged.
Background and Motivation
This project develops a framework for the assessment of the effects of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act of 2021 on high-speed Internet access, digital equity, and community development.
With the funding authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021 (Infrastructure Act), the federal government, states, and communities will have a window of opportunity to close digital connectivity gaps improve digital equity, and to transform communities. The scale and diversity of current federal, state, and local policy initiatives creates a needs transparency and accountability to assure the responsible use of public funds.
Even though the Infrastructure Act and NTIA implementation guidelines supply an integrative framework, states and territories have developed varying models to meet their specific needs. Given the many challenges of such a large-scale effort, it is to be expected that some will be more effective than others. If properly monitored and evaluated, these variations can be translated into knowledge that can help improve all programs for the remaining duration of the program.
Phase I of the project, completed in September 2024, developed principles to ease the burden on eligible entities of meeting their statutory reporting requirements. Phase II, from October 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, will develop specific metrics and data analysis tools to facilitate project monitoring and an assessment of the broader impacts of the Infrastructure Act on digital equity and communities.
